Overview

This bill aims to completely abolish the Vagrancy Act 1824 and remove all related provisions from other legislation. The Act, considered outdated and overly broad, is seen as unfairly targeting vulnerable individuals.

Description

The Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill seeks to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 in its entirety. This involves:

• Removing the Vagrancy Act 1824 from the statute book.
• Removing related offenses from the Criminal Justice Act 1982 (section 70).
• Removing related provisions from the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (section 20).
• Amending the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (section 6, paragraph (4)(a)).
• Amending the Mental Health Act 1983 (section 43, subsection (5)).

The bill ensures that the repeal and amendments apply to the same geographical areas covered by the original legislation. It will come into effect immediately upon being passed.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to have minimal, if any, direct impact on government spending. The repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 is unlikely to lead to increased or decreased government spending. No specific figures are provided.

Groups Affected

• Individuals previously prosecuted under the Vagrancy Act 1824: The repeal removes the legal basis for future prosecutions under this Act.
• Law enforcement agencies: Police and other law enforcement will no longer be able to use the Vagrancy Act 1824 for arrests or prosecutions.
• Vulnerable groups: The repeal aims to protect vulnerable individuals who were disproportionately targeted under the old law, such as homeless people and those with mental health issues.
• The judiciary: Courts will no longer deal with cases based on the repealed legislation.

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